Sandgate's Coronation Day 16th July 1902

The Folkestone Herald of Saturday 19 July 1902 published a long report (with photographs by W.H. Jacob of Sandgate and Hythe) on the celebrations held on Wednesday 16 July 1902 by the Sandgate community in association with the coronation of Edward VII. Queen Victoria’s long reign had ended with her death on 22 January 1901 and the new monarch succeeded to the throne. Over the next 18 months plans were made for his coronation to be held on 26 June 1902. Two days before, on 24 June 1902, the King was diagnosed with appendicitis, which at that time “was not generally treated operatively and carried a high mortality rate”. A radical operation was performed successfully and within 24 hours “Edward was sitting up in bed, smoking a cigar. Two weeks later it was announced that the King was out of danger” and a new Coronation Day was set for Saturday 9 August 1902. One of the by-products of this successful operation was the fact that “appendix surgery entered the medical mainstream.”

The Herald’s report on the Sandgate celebrations in the supplement to the issue of 19 July 1902 covered such aspects as “Wednesday’s Enjoyable Events, Presentation of Mugs and Medals, The Children’s Procession, Bonfire and Torches, The Street Decorations,” etc.

The first paragraph of the press report read as follows: - “Wednesday was ‘Coronation Day” at Sandgate, and in every respect the event was a great success. It speaks volumes in favour of the people that after the bitter, cruel disappointment brought about by the relentless hand of fate in June last, they so loyally and whole-heartedly rose to the occasion, and entered into the day’s proceedings with such zealousness. They were determined, as a community, that if they had been debarred from celebrating the placing of the crown on King Edward’s brow [on the originally planned Coronation Day of 26 June 1902], it should never be said that they were not equally as glad to celebrate his recovery from so severe an illness. Thus it was that when the announcement that the town would hold its postponed festivities on Wednesday was publicly made, it was received with unbounded delight by all classes, and especially by the little children, who had been so eagerly looking forward to June 26th.”

The bulk of the Herald’s report was devoted to aspects of the celebrations that centred on the children of Sandgate. “A procession of children in fancy dress marched from the schools to the ‘Encombe’ grounds.” The procession was led by the Hythe Town Military Band in their Volunteer Artillery uniforms, under Mr. Bandmaster Nelson. However it should be noted that later in the report there was a reference to “the band of the Folkestone Company of the Artillery Volunteers, under Bandmaster Nelson”, there were either two different bands or there was some conflicting information in this regard in the newspaper’s report.

The segment in the press report entitled “The Children’s Procession” detailed some of the costumes worn by the children – eg. “Mary Queen of Scots was a delight to gaze upon, and filled everyone with admiration. She toddled along – a tiny little mite – quite unconscious that everyone was admiring her.” The Herald reporter continued by listing the names of the Officials of the Celebratory Events, including – of course – our friend Col. Fynmore. The report also gave information about the judging of the children’s costumes with the names of the nine judges, male and female. The fancy dress judging was preceded by the medals and mugs being distributed to the children “by Mrs. and Councillor H. Smith respectively. [According to the Folkestone Directories for 1901/2 and 1902/3 Col. Fynmore was the Chairman of the Sandgate Urban District Council and Mr. O.H. Smith was the Vice-Chairman.] The medals and the mugs – the latter the gift of Sir Edward Sassoon, M.P. – which have been fully described in these columns … There were 500 each of these souvenirs presented.”

The two medals that I have here in Sydney were – I was told as a child – the gifts of the Sandgate U.D.C. in 1902, and in 1911 for the coronation of George V and Queen Mary. There used to be two coronation mugs in respect of both events in our West London family home at Gunnersbury, but they were no longer there when the house was sold in 2005. Other events, including the programme of music played by the Band during the Costume judging, were also reported in the press report. “A substantial tea was provided to the children … During the afternoon some sports were carried out,” for which monetary prizes were presented as detailed. The “List of Prize Winners” for the fancy dress competition was a major feature in the Herald report. It was arranged under categories as was the List of Entries. However there are some discrepancies among those Lists, not surprising when one considers the number of children involved and the multiplicity of events.

The press report ended with an account of “The Evening’s Events”, the main one being the “Torchlight Procession”. The latter started at the Encombe grounds and went through the town to “the Plain” at the end of the Folkestone Leas, where a huge bon-fire had been stacked. … the celebrations came to their climax. Everyone was as lively as could be, and when after a few appropriate words from Councillor O.H. Smith, his charming wife applied the light to the mass of ‘inflammables’, the excitement rose to fever pitch.” The press report ended with the following two sentences: - “it was well into the small hours of the morning when the last of the merry-makers deemed it was time to seek their warm beds, and the bon-fire was voted on all sides to have been an unequalled success and a truly grand ‘finale’ to a magnificent afternoon and evening. Thus concluded one of the most memorable days in the history of ‘Healthy Sandgate’.”

Below are three photographs of four of the Prescott children, who lived at this time in The Rosary, 31 Esplanade, Sandgate – not so “named” in the Sandgate Section of the Folkestone Directory until the issue of 1903/4. The photographs show the children in their Fancy Dress Costumes for the procession and competition and were taken in the premises of W.H. Jacob. Original copies are held by various descendants of John and Annie Prescott. We can remember – as children – that there were hanging in the garden sitting room in the front of The Rosary enlargements of two of there photos, which were regarded as family treasures. Post-1945 those enlargements had disappeared.

The first photograph shows the four Prescott children old enough in 1902 to take part in these events. From left to right at the back – John (Jack) Prescott (1886-1967) as the Lord Chancellor (for which he won 2nd prize – 7 shillings and 6 pence – in the Trade or Profession Competition for Boys), with James (Jim) Prescott (1891-1878) as an Irishman (no prize). From left to right in front – Annie Honora (Molly) Prescott (1897-1985) as Mary Queen of Scots (for which she won part of the 3rd prize – 5 shillings – in the Historical Dress Competition) and William (Bill) Prescott (1899-1978) as Lord Darnley, (for which he shared the 3rd prize with his sister Molly). There was also a Competition for “Decorated Mail Carts” in which the 3rd prize (no sum specified in the Herald report) went to Mrs. Prescott. I am not sure what a Decorated Mail Cart was or is, but somehow I have the feeling that my Mum (May Eileen Prescott – 1901-1953) was sitting in the Mail Cart.

The second photo shows Molly Prescott and Bill Prescott in their character costumes. The third and final photograph and probably the most iconic Prescott photo of this event shows Molly Prescott alone. When she (Molly Bloxham, née Prescott) gave me an original copy of this photo in 1970 she told me that poor Mr. Jacob, the photographer, had the greatest difficulty in taking the photo in this pose as she would not stay still for long enough. So in the end he tacked a nail into the train of her dress and if one looks closely at the photo one can see the head of that nail on her right hand side in the third step from the bottom.